Page 36 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

“Yes,” Drake answered quickly. He pulled Carter close and put an arm around him. “This is just perfect. Leigh Andrews is the one I’ve been telling you about. She’s the reason I came back to Las Vegas.”

Those words sent a chill through me. I had goosebumps all over my skin--- from the cold and this surreal experience.

This is not fucking happening, I repeated in my mind.

Carter seemed confused.

“Leigh is…” Drake hesitated just a bit before going on. “… my girlfriend from Ohio.”

Girlfriend?

I wanted to strangle him. “Ex-girlfriend,” I corrected in a cold tone of voice.

“She’s the one you were supposed to marry?” Carter asked very slowly, as if he could not believe it either. He was turning a little pale too, if I wasn’t mistaken.

“Unfortunately, yes,” I said bitterly.

Drake didn’t say anything. He was just staring at me. I wanted to will him to just vanish into thin air.

Carter, on the other hand, recovered quickly. The shock on his face disappeared, replaced by his classic stoic expression. It was probably one of his many talents.

“What a small world,” he said. “Well, I’m glad you two know each other already…”

I wondered what he’d already told Drake about me… about us…

“And you two are still together here?” Drake said, his tone suddenly suspicious. “I didn’t catch you at the party.” Then he turned toward Carter. “When I called you, you said you were staying at the presidential suite.”

He shifted his gaze to me. I didn’t want to meet his eyes.

“Oh, yes,” Carter answered smoothly for both of us. “I was just resting there because the party was getting to be too much for me. You know how I am at these social gatherings. And Miss Andrews here was invited because she’s the CEO of one of our big suppliers--- Luxe Linen. We ran into each other in the hallway a while ago.”

Wow, I’d say he’s a good liar. That was a plus point for now, but I was suddenly doubtful about how he viewed and felt about me.

At the moment, I needed to ride on. “Yeah, we ran into each other…” I explained. “I was about to head home already. I just got coffee from the lobby after the party.”

“Okay…” Drake answered. He still looked quite suspicious.

“Anyway, I asked her to come out here for a while to meet you,” Carter added. “Isn’t it that you’re heading the Bali Villas project? I wanted Miss Andrews to meet you because we’re probably going to get the linens from their company. But you two go a long way back so… no introductions needed, I suppose…”

“What’s the Bali Villas project?” I wanted to know.

“It’s the newest resort development by The Croft Hotel Group,” Drake answered. “I’m working for the company now.”

“I see,” I said quietly. I was honestly glad for him. He actually sported a cleaner look now and seemed more professional-looking, even with his rolled-up sleeves and large tattoo. “That’s great.”

“Why don’t I take you home, and I’ll tell you more about the project?” Drake offered.

I turned to Carter, pleading him to get me away from Drake. But there was no emotion on his face. He’d shut himself out. It was as if he was a totally different person from the one I’d been with earlier.

“I can manage, thanks,” I told Drake. “Anyway, I have a car.” I then turned to Carter and formally said, “Thanks so much for the party, Mr. Croft. It was an honor to be part of this celebration. Congratulations again.”

“Thank you for coming,” Carter said. He smiled politely, but it didn’t hold any meaning. My bubble had just burst. This was the reality now.

“Let me walk you to your car,” Drake said. “See you, Carter.”

I didn’t dare look back as I walked away. Drake caught up with me, but I didn’t have the energy anymore to push him away or shout at him. In all fairness, he’d been very patient and kind with me and hadn’t pestered me anymore the past few weeks.

I just let him walk beside me in silence.

---